known to the person drawing the inference. The aim is to direct people and guide them, and they all know that human beings are created from clinging clots. As for Adam’s creation from clay, that is known only through what the prophets reported or through other evidence. Hence some disbelievers among the Dahriyyah and others who do not acknowledge prophethood deny it. This differs from the mention of his creation in other surahs, where it is mentioned in connection with what establishes prophethood. This surah, however, was the first revelation, and prophethood is established through it. It therefore does not mention what is known through transmitted accounts, but instead presents evidence known through reason, observation, and—for those who have not seen clinging clots—mass-transmitted reports.

He, glorified is He, mentions the creation of man from clinging clots: ‘alaq is the plural of ‘alaqah, meaning a small piece of blood. Before that stage, it was a drop of semen. Such a drop may be discharged outside the womb, as when someone has a wet dream, or it may enter the womb and then be expelled before becoming a clot. At the clot stage, it has thus become the starting point of human creation, and it is known that the drop has become a clot from which a human being is to be created. He says in Surah al-Qiyāmah:

“Was he not a drop of semen emitted?
Then he became a clinging clot, and He created and proportioned him,
and made from him the two sexes, male and female.
Is He not able